Buried Roman cities, teetering coastal villages, Venetian palaces, awe-inspiring art and sun-kissed beaches - the Mediterranean will delight and enchant you, leaving you wanting more! On this journey stay on the Italian Riviera where you will explore the seaside villages of the Cinque Terre and beautiful Lake Como. In Venice, embark on a 12 night cruise around the Adriatic and beyond; visiting Dubrovnik, Sarande, Katakolon, Naples, Rome, Livorno, Monte Carlo, Toulon, and Barcelona. These fascinating ports of call ensure you see all that the Mediterranean has to offer, in comfort and style.

On this journey you will enjoy the following special experiences:
•Farmhouse picnic in Portofino
Sit under the olive trees and taste local delicacies like extra virgin olive oil, herbs, homemade jams and focaccia. Set high on the hill, we'll gaze out over the picturesque harbour of Portofino.

•A delightful courtyard dinner in a Venetian Palace
We'll sit among marble sculptures, ornaments and secret gardens in one of the best preserved Gothic palaces in Venice. Dinner will be served on the terrace in this enchanting setting.

Day 3: Cinque Terre (B,L)
Colourful houses and ancient vineyards cling to steep terraces, fishing boats bob in harbours, and trattorias serve seafood specialities. Today our local guide will show us around the beautiful villages of the Cinque Terre.

Day 4: Portofino (B,L,D)
Visit Portofino, a picturesque town set upon the turquoise sea. Today we enjoy a special farmhouse picnic with wonderful views overlooking the cape. We'll taste local delicacies like extra virgin olive oil, herbs, homemade jams and focaccia.

Day 5: Santa Margherita Ligure (B)
Day at leisure to visit one of the five quaint seaside villages.

Day 6: Santa Margherita Ligure > Lake Como (B,D)
Drive north through the Ligurian countryside and into the alpine scenery of Northern Italy to Lake Como. Check into our hotel, with views out over the blue lake and softly rolling hills.

Day 7: Lake Como (B)
Ferry passes are included today so we can see the surrounding historical villages and palaces.

Day 8: Lake Como > Venice (B,D)
Leave the mountains to head towards Venice. On arrival we travel by private water taxi to our hotel, Palazzo Gionavelli. This evening, we dine on the terrace of a private Gothic palace, one of the best preserved in Venice, complete with limestone lions and marble sculptures.

Day 9: Venice (B,D)
We enjoy a walking tour to see Renaissance and Gothic palaces surrounding the charming Grand Canal, finishing our tour with a gondola ride. Afterwards, we will wander through the picturesque alleyways and squares of this fairy tale city. This evening we board our ship ms Oosterdam.

Day 10: At Sea (B,L,D)
Sail the Adriatic today. Explore the ship or simply relax.

Day 11: Dubrovnik (B,L,D)
Visit the 'Jewel of the Adriatic' on the Dalmatian Coast, rich in Baroque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture, encircled by 14th century walls and massive guard towers. The carefully preserved Old Town features marble-paved squares, cobbled streets, splendid churches, palaces, monasteries, and fountains which are easy to explore by foot.

Day 12: Sarande (B,L,D)
This charismatic town on the Albanian Riviera is an unusual and unique stop today. Perhaps visit the 40 Saints Monastery, Lekursi Castle, or relax in one of the many bars and restaurants bursting with fresh produce and freshly caught seafood.

Day 13: Katakolon (B,L,D)
Katakolon is the perfect gateway for Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. You may perhaps choose to visit this wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site echoing with the shouts of chariot drivers, wrestlers, and other elite athletes of times past.

Day 14: At Sea (B,L,D)
Sail the Ionian Sea today, another chance to explore our ship or simply relax.

Day 15: Naples (B,L,D)
We arrive in a great cultural centre, filled with extraordinary classical Greek and Roman art and architecture. Perhaps take a short drive to visit Pompeii, a Roman city buried under metres of ash and pumice. Other optional activities include a short boat trip on the beautiful blue waters to the entrancing Isle of Capri; or a drive along the picturesque Amalfi Coast with spectacular views out over the ocean.

Day 16: Rome (B,L,D)
Rome is awash with world-famous churches, monuments and fountains: the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. Opt for a guided tour or shop at the high-fashion boutiques of Via Condotti.

Day 17: Livorno (Pisa / Florence) (B,L,D)
The port city of Livorno is the gateway to a remarkable region. Perhaps take an optional trip to Florence, with a stop at the leaning Tower of Pisa. Florence is home to treasures of the Italian Renaissance - works by Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo. Or perhaps visit Michelangelo's David at the Accademia Gallery, and the Piazza del Duomo with its grand cathedral in the heart of its historic centre.

Day 18: Monte Carlo (B,L,D)
The jet set principality of Monaco is the essence of the Riviera; couture fashion, grand yachts, and nightlife centred around its famed Casino.

Day 19: Toulon (B,L,D)
Toulon's port is built around a sheltered bay. You may like to take the opportunity to explore Provence, visit the National Marine Museum, or take the cable car up Mt Faron.

Day 20: Barcelona (B,L,D)
Today we arrive in Barcelona, an enchanting seaside city with Gaudi's splendid Modernista architecture and lively Las Ramblas promenade. Tonight we enjoy our final night on board ms Oosterdam.

Day 21: Barcelona (B)
We disembark for a city tour of the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's renowned unfinished church, and Park Guell, another work by Gaudi full of stunning stone structures, tiling, and buildings.

Day 22: Barcelona (B,L,D)
Enjoy a fabulous gastronomy tour of the famous La Boqueria market situated on Las Ramblas. Then we have a cooking class, enjoying our delicious cuisine for lunch. Finish with a walking tour through the Gothic Quarter before our farewell dinner.

Day 23: Barcelona (B)
Check out of our hotel where your journey ends.

• A World Journeys host
• Accommodation in 4 Star hotels
• Transfers, sightseeing and entrance fees as per the itinerary
• Accommodation on board ms Oosterdam including port taxes
• Meals as indicated
• Gratuities including on board the ship

Pricing (per person) $AUD

Type

TWIN

SINGLE

2018

Inside Cabin

Outside Cabin

Verandah Cabin

-

$9,835

$11,195

$11,650

-

$13,450

$15,570

$17,430

Departs

20 August 2018

Booking conditions

A non-refundable deposit of $1,500 per person is required, with the balance due 20 June 2018. As cancellation fees apply, travel insurance is mandatory.

In the countries we are visiting, tipping is customary. For a hassle free journey, tipping is included and will be handled by the World Journeys host.

Many thanks for a great trip!

Highlights of our journey included the Cinque Terre: "We loved staying at Santa Margherita Liguria, very central. Really enjoyed doing the Cinque Terre by train, walking and boat. We were glad we didn't stay in one of the villages and felt that was the best way for us to see the Cinque Terre. We were glad we had four nights there. Loved Portofino and the fantastic lunch we had there". Venice: "We enjoyed our stay in Venice. Travelling with such a fantastic group of people, we were so lucky. The lunch we had in Portofino was outstanding as was our guide". We both thought Julie Salt was absolutely fantastic and that she is a real asset to the World Journeys Company. She was inclusive , caring , extremely well organized and delightful company. Everybody thought she was fabulous. Overall, we felt the local guides were excellent. The outstanding ones were the guide we had in Venice who took us on our 3 hour walking tour (she was amazing) the guide who took us by train to the Cinque Terre (he was fantastic), and the young woman who met us in Portofino and took us to our delicious lunch. Oceania was fantastic to cruise with. The food and services were superb. This is the fifth cruise we have done with them and we cannot fault them. The Sirena appeared to be a very happy ship, all credit to the Captain and his crew. Emirates were very good to travel with.

Rob & Ali

Overall we loved the total experience

The highlights were Taormina, Santa Margherita, Portofino, and the Cinque Terre. Julie and (Kylie) were both outstanding with handling any problems with efficiency and good humour. The guide in Rome was excellent, but we felt guide on excursion ZAD-006 over-emphasized her view on religion. All others had varying degrees of English.
The total cruise ship experience was wonderful - the ship, the crew and shore excursions were unable to be faulted by us. Improvements? Travelling from Milan to Santa Margherita at end of a long trip, then back past Milan to Como, then back past Milan on way to Venice seemed to be back-tracking, the meal in Venice was not up to standard, and Lake Como's Grand Victoria was booked for a society type wedding so our rooms were not up to World Journeys standard. All other hotels were fine.
Conclusion - overall we loved the total experience with a great group of people who got on very well together and this was only enhanced by Julie's efforts.

Colin

Amazing Trip and New Friends Made

What an amazing trip. Would highly recommend. Wonderful group of fellow travellers who all got on so well. Out hostess Julie Salt was just amazing. And Kylie too. Managed to get our voting papers sorted for elections. Not that easy. Thank you so much Julie for all your help and always available for everyone. Just loved our 4 days at Santa Margherita Ligure. A great base for our trips to Cinque Terre and Portofino. The cruise was awesome. The Sirena was wonderful. With great food and such friendly helpful staff. Would travel with Oceania again. Excursions great. Loved Montenegro with itâ€™s narrow hill roads. Great bus driver. Felt safe at all times. New friendships made

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